What's your favourite beer? Personally, I prefer the ESB's....Redhook ESB, brewed in Woodinville Wa. is my current favourite. ESB's are the same basic thing as the "Bitter" served in the English pubs. Sometimes I can get some Fuller's ESB from England, which I also like, but there's another beer brewed by Rogue in Oregon that is actuall styled after a German "Marzen" type of Ale, but it tastes more like a good ESB....it's called "Dead Guy" Ale....it's fantastic.

Last time I visited England, it was 1972...it's been a while. It seems like a lot of the beers have changed. Some of my favourites then were Younger's Tartan Bitter, and Ind Coope Best Bitter, Also Worthington's, and Watney's Red. Are those still around? It seems like Boddington's and Tetley's have cornered the U.S. import market....I never see the others anymore over here.

Aren't some of those keg beers? You won't find many of those nowadays. Best resource for beer is CAMRA. I'm not a fan of bitters, the best thing about English ale is the names: Fiddler's Elbow, Old Speckled Hen, Dogfish Head Snowblower Ale, Sick Duck, Homo Erectus, Seriously Bad Elf, Arrogant Bastard, Moose Drool, Santa's Butt Porter, Merriman's Old Fart, etc. (I'm quoting these because you're English and will appreciate them, but you probably have to be English to find them funny). I prefer light beers and lagers; Sol, Corona, Stella Artois, Rolling Rock, Heineken Export, etc. I also love Old Style, but I think you can only get it in Chicago.

If you love beer, Prague is the place to go. Absolutely dozens of spot-on beers of all styles (better than Munich). Last time I was there, you could buy a litre for 20p (about 30 cents), but I believe prices have gone up slightly since then.

Yes, most of them were keg beers. Back in those days, the breweries owned the pub franchises and the pubs served their brand....you had Ind Coope houses, Watneys houses, etc....is that still the same? I'll check out that link, it looks interesting. I also remember that back in the seventies, there were German "Bierkellers" in England....I particularly remember one in Bournemouth, where my Aunt lived. They served liter glasses of Lowenbrau and Holstein....great stuff! I remember staggering out of there a few times! There was a Father and Son accordion act with Lederhosen and the whole real deal....they were quite amusing.....Bodie and Tony, I believe they were called!

That sort of monopoly trading is pretty much outlawed now, I think. The breweries were forced (by the Monopolies Commission) to sell off large numbers of their tied houses. That Bier Keller (the one on The Square, at the corner of Post Office Road, yes?) is still there, but I think the lederhosen have been retired. I really don't think you'd recognise urban pubs now - they are mostly of the cheap and cheerful grub or gastropub persuasion these days, except for those that specialise in young people, most of whom appear to favour cocktails and alcopops over beer. Village pubs are still pretty much the same, but again they make a great deal of their money on food nowadays, I believe.

I learned to like dutch beers while living in Limburgh. They delivered it to my door with the milk and butter. The name of the stuff was Brand.

Dead Guy Ale isn't an ESB, it's an IPA. I really enjoy that one too. The worst beer I've ever tasted is also made by Rogue. It is their Chipotle Ale...NASTY!!

I like IPAs, ESBs (but I can't find any locally...once in a while, I find a pub in a big city that offers one), porters and stouts, in that order. Sometimes, on a really hot summer day, a hefeweizen will hit the spot, but it's not usually my first choice. Lagers are way down at the bottom of my list, somewhere after soft drinks.

If you love beer, Prague is the place to go. Absolutely dozens of spot-on beers of all styles (better than Munich).

Hold it right there, young lady!
You cannot make such blanket statements without support, unless you want a full-fledged war with me on your hands!
Granted, most Czech beer is a decent choice of beverage, but come on now!
There is absolutely NO better beer than a cool Augustiner on a sunny afternoon right in their own beergarden!
Now, get down on your knees and beg for forgiveness!

Dead Guy is ann IPA? It's not as hoppy as some, that's for sure....it's good though. Strong too....I think it's about 7.5% Once I found a can of Foster's "Premium Bitter"....never seen one since, but that was good if you guys can find that....It was a green can instead of the blue one thet use for the lager.
Quiver, how much is a pint these days? In '72 it was 90p on the average. I think I'd prefer the country pubs. Of course my "local" was the Queen's Head in Pinner! We hailed from the North Harrow/Pinner area. I think Simon LeBon of Duran Duran came from there too! Not much very exciting comes from there usually, but there you go!

I can't recall where that Bierkeller in Bournemouth was specifically, because I was visiting my Aunt for a few days....don't recall the town that well, but I could always find the Pubs!

LMAO, AQ ~ "a picture IS worth 1,000 words" ~ I truly LOVE that smiley ~ I even used it as my first avatar ~

Sooz

That's how it's listed at the bars here that have it on tap. I figured that's why it's Dead Guy ALE too, but maybe the marketing folks just didn't think Bitter Dead Guy would sell as well. [img]/domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif[/img] It's REALLY expensive for a beer (at least compared to the other stuff available locally), but it's my treat to myself when the anatomy labs end each semester. [img]/domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/happy.gif[/img]

Yes, Rogue Ales are all expensive. Smaller batches are produced is why.

Beer is between about £2.70 and £3.20 a pint (in a pub). Off sales are significantly cheaper of course. At least until the Budget ...

That's about the same as here! 4 bucks for a pint (of good stuff) in a pub, except that the British pint is 4 ounces bigger. We have "20 ouncers" at happy hour joints in some areas though.(Applebee's and Red Robin, etc.)